English as she is wrotten

[Smurlos]

Dear Carl, the word does take two Rs but not in succession... It's PREROGATIVE (Latin prefix: PRAE or PRE = before, (see pre-fix- pre-cedent etc...))
prerogative noun
1 an exclusive right or privilege arising from one's rank or position.
2 any right or privilege. See also royal prerogative.
adj holding or exercising a prerogative.
[14c: from Latin praerogativa privilege, from prae before others + rogare, rogatum to ask.]

nescience noun,
formal lack of knowledge; ignorance.
nescient adj.
[17c: from Latin nescire to be ignorant of something, from ne not + scire to know.]

Thanks for that, :biggrin:. You really *do* learn something new every day :biggrin:

[princealbertofb]

Thanks for that, :biggrin:. You really *do* learn something new every day :biggrin:

You're welcome, Smurls, baby, just ask whenever you need to and I'll whip out the computer dictionary... hehe.

[Dan1089]

Had a very interesting debate today over scissors.The question was "Are the scissors in that drawer?" which just doesn't sound right.right?Using the word "are" does imply that there are many scissors in the cabinent which is untrue as there is one.I think it would be more appropriate to use the word "It" instead since the scissors are regarded as a unit.I think it is better to say "Is the pair of scissors in that drawer?".What do you think?

[princealbertofb]

Had a very interesting debate today over scissors.The question was "Are the scissors in that drawer?" which just doesn't sound right.right?Using the word "are" does imply that there are many scissors in the cabinent which is untrue as there is one.I think it would be more appropriate to use the word "It" instead since the scissors are regarded as a unit.I think it is better to say "Is the pair of scissors in that drawer?".What do you think?

An interesting point, Dan, but actually I think you have to say "ARE the scissors in the drawer"? or "Is the pair of scissors in the drawer?"

Here's what the 21st century dictionary says:
scissors plural noun
1 a one-handed cutting device with two long blades pivoted in the middle so the cutting edges close and overlap.
2 any position or movement similar to that of scissors.
3 gymnastics a movement of the legs similar to the opening and closing of scissors.
4 wrestling a locking of the legs around the opponent's head or body.
5 a style of high jump where the jump is approached at an angle and the leg nearest the bar leads throughout.
[14c: from French cisoires, from Latin cisorium cutting tool, from caedere to cut.]
Interestingly in French the corresponding word is also a plural "Les Ciseaux" to talk about the tool you're mentioning; The singular of the word corresponds to another tool known as a Chisel in English. Un ciseau is therefore different from Des ciseaux (unless, of course, you were talking of several chisels).